Over 150 people were hurt, eight of them critically, in a fireworks mishap at the Kerala temple festival

A fireworks accident at the Anjootambalam Veerarkavu Temple in Kasaragod, Kerala, left over 150 festival attendees injured, with at least eight critically wounded, in the early hours of Monday. The incident unfolded during the annual Kaliyattam festival, a significant religious celebration drawing hundreds of devotees from across the region. According to local police, the blast, which occurred around 12:30 am, likely resulted from a fire that broke out in a nearby fireworks storage facility. The exact cause of the fire remains unclear, and authorities are conducting a thorough investigation.

Following the incident, the injured were swiftly transferred to hospitals across Kasaragod, Kannur, and Mangaluru for emergency medical treatment. Family members and local communities rushed to support the victims, and volunteers and emergency responders coordinated to manage the situation. Senior district administration officials, including the district collector and police chief, were on-site to oversee the relief efforts and address safety concerns, ensuring that all necessary resources were deployed. State government representatives expressed sympathy for the victims and assured that all possible assistance would be provided for their medical care and recovery.

This incident comes in the wake of another controversy in Kerala concerning alleged disruptions of the historic Thrissur Pooram festival earlier this year. Thrissur Pooram, known for its iconic parades featuring elaborately adorned elephants, traditional percussion performances, and a grand fireworks display, faced political tensions when Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan accused opposition parties of attempting to disrupt the event. An FIR was recently filed by the Kerala Police alleging a criminal conspiracy intended to provoke religious unrest and outrage sentiments, with accusations aimed at the Sangh Parivar and its allies. Though the charges remain unspecified, the FIR includes counts of criminal conspiracy, incitement to riot, and attempts to inflame religious beliefs. 

Vijayan publicly condemned these alleged interference attempts, calling the opposition-led United Democratic Front (UDF) the "B-team" of the Sangh Parivar, asserting that political groups sought to tarnish Kerala’s traditions for their agendas. Despite these alleged disruptions, the festival continued as planned, with the Kerala government reinforcing its commitment to preserving the cultural and religious heritage of its festivals. The Chief Minister's statements have sparked debates over political and religious interference in traditional events, and the incident at the Kaliyattam festival has further highlighted the need for heightened safety measures during large gatherings involving fireworks and crowd management.